DAE invites US firms to be part of India's nuclear story

However, clarifies that they need to adhere to Indian laws and regulatory framework

A high-level delegation of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in Vienna rolled out a red carpet for  US industry to invest in the nuclear capacity addition programme. India proposes to increase its nuclear capacity to 63,000 Mw by 2032 from the present level of 4,780 Mw, with a mix of indigenous reactors and also through foreign technical cooperation.

The DAE, however, in no uncertain terms told the US industry delegation the companies would have to meet Indian regulatory requirements. Indian laws would be applicable to them, though the presentation did not make a mention of the civil nuclear liability law. A couple of global nuclear reactor supplier companies have raised serious objections against our civil nuclear liability law.

The DAE team, led by Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chief R K Sinha, was in Vienna to attend the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 57th general conference between September 16 and 19. Sinha made a strong pitch for nuclear energy, considering the limitations of fossil fuels. DAE’s presentation on September 18 came a day before controversy erupted in India over bypassing the AEC to pave the way for a reactor supply deal between the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) and Westinghouse during the proposed US visit of  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Further, DAE told US industry the cost per megawatt and unit-energy cost would have to be competitive with other options. Companies need to be licensed in the country of origin.

More important, DAE touched upon the growing protest against nuclear energy in India and told US industry members they would have to address ideological opposition in this regard and also safety- related concerns and public awareness. US industry would also have to tackle issues relating to land acquisition and resource mobilisation.

DAE informed that NPC has already entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Westinghouse to set up six reactors of 1,154 MW each for the proposed nuclear power project at Miti Virdi in Gujarat.

Besides, NPC has also inked an MoU with GE-Hitachi for the supply of six reactors of 1,350 MW each for the proposed nuclear power project at Kovada in Andhra Pradesh. NPC is currently engaged in discussions with both, Westinghouse and GE Hitachi, to arrive at project proposals. DAE hoped that an agreement would be reached on several issues.